Psychiatrist and antidepressants. When is it normal to feel sad versus needing medication ?

Question

Someone I know was recovering from a manic bipolar experience. The Dr prescribed anti depressants, saying he was depressed, yet at home he had been better - the antidepressants made him go high and he stopped taking them. The Dr was angry with me... and wanted to "enforce" him taking them. He then turned up at our door putting his finger of the eyehole and quite distressing me.

Answer 1

OK this is my understanding from what I learned in college. Everyone feels sad. most people even have depressive symptoms. The difference between these people and those who need to be on meds is {frequency and Severity} How often these episodes occur and how badly they disrupt your everyday activities.

Answer 2

Most doctors know little about bipolar disorder, and should be aware that antidepressants can trigger mania/hypomania in bipolars. Seek a second opinion, from a mental health professional. A previous poat follows:

See bipolar disorder, at ezy build, below, in section 10, and take the quiz, if unsure, and if the results are positive, ensure you get an expert diagnosis from a mental health professional, not doctors, who are much better dealing with physical ailments, and don't diagnose complex disorders like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and borderline personality disorder often enough to develop any real expertise.

          Bipolar disorder usually involves major mood swings, which occur without apparent cause, and often over many months, or a matter of years, rather than days, as with most people (unless rapid cycling). I'd take 4 Omega 3 fish oil supplements daily, replacing 2 of them with cod liver oil supplements in the winter months, (or, as probably a better alternative to the 2 cod liver oil supplements: 1 teaspoonful of cod liver oil, with a little butter, to ensure its use; I take mine on sourdough rye bread, or toast, covered with fishpaste, and pepper, to mask the strong taste). Those people who receive adequate exposure to sunlight, daily, won't need the vitamin D from cod liver oil, but many people, particularly those in latitudes far from the equator, find this difficult, to achieve.

         If you decide to use allopathy, (modern Western medicine) I recommend trying Lithium Carbonate, or Lithium Citrate. (regular tests are necessary, for these) before trying the other mood stabilisers, but if you aren't good at taking medications regularly, drinking adequate water, and keeping up your salt intake, something else, such as  Lamictal,  or Depakote, may suit you better. Check out "lithium"  at http://www.drugs.com/, and http://crazymeds.us/ and always research medications first, (read, and keep the labels/information sheets) so you will be aware of the risks, and on the lookout for side effects. (Personally, if I wasn't bipolar type 1, and didn't experience hallucinations, or serious delusional states, I know I'd first try the orthomolecular, and Omega 3 fish oil supplements, vitamins, minerals; a herbal remedy, and a mostly raw food diet, for several months. Note: St. John's wort, and also antidepressants, may cause mania, or hypomania, in people with bipolar disorder. I'd aso eat in accordance with my "nutritional type". Enter that term in the searchbar at http://www.mercola.com/  

         If not considerably improved, after a maximum of 6 months trial period, consult your primary mental health care provider: you may be one of those who need medications to prevent this serious disorder from worsening.  If you have bipolar type 1, an antipsychotic medication may also be needed. Everyone should take the Omega 3 supplements, or preferably "krill oil" for its other health benefits: use the searchbar at http://www.mercola.com/ . Some people refuse medication, using supplements, and a selective, mostly raw food diet (I do not recommended trying this, if bipolar 1, unless you aren't troubled by hallucinations, or delusional states).

         Maintain the treatments for the depressive phase, in section 2, at:  http://www.ezy-build.net.nz/~shaneris  Some topics in section 10 include: treating bipolar disorder with supplements, vitamins, minerals, and herbal remedies (except for St. John's wort, which may cause mania, or hypomania).  As with all medications, there are risks, and the possibility of side effects, which is why I inform people of the alternatives, to see if they can cope sufficiently well, without resorting to medications or, at least use less of them. Don't use medications and supplements together, without medical advice, except for Omega 3, which is safe, anytime.

Answer 3

It's a normal human behavior to feel sad. Life has it's ups and downs. I think I would be more worried about a person if they told me they had never been sad. There is a huge difference between being sad (which happens to everyone) and being depressed. Sadly many doctors would rather write you a prescription then actually take the time to find out if it's depression or just normal every day sadness. Too many doctors just write you a prescription and send you on your way. Many times this leads in the misdiagnoses of many patients. I am one of the thousands out there. My advice to you would be to go see another doctor. Get another opinion. Also make sure that he was diagnosed correctly with bipolar. Many times the symptoms of post traumatic stress syndrome are confused with the symptoms of bipolar. This is what happened to me. Double checking never hurts. Good luck!